|
Podcasting combines the versatility of the iPod as a personal media device with the vast possibilities of sharing content over the Internet.
If you own or have ever used an iPod, you might have enjoyed being able to listen to music, spoken word, and other audio in MP3 format. Podcasting allows iPod users to automatically download the latest releases from a favorite musician, news summaries, commentaries, radio shows, or any one of a myriad of emerging "podcasts" - audio recordings akin to personal radio broadcasts on practically any topic under the sun.
How does Podcasting work?
An iPod user connects their device to their computer in the usual manner, and a type of software called an "iPod aggregator" - or podcast client - automatically detecs that the iPod has been connected. The client software has been working in the background to check subscribed websites where new audio has been made available, and it downloads any new files to the computer. The client then automatically transfers the new audio files over to the iPod. The key to the client software is the RSS standard, which allows the computer to check a website for which the user has a subscription (which is typically free) and download any new files. The user simply subscribes to an RSS service. Popular RSS readers include Sharpreader, Bloglines, and Amphetadesk.
Podcasting has become very popular in the last year because of its ease of use and because it empowers content creators in a new medium while satisfying iPod users with selective, specific, niche content that transcends conventional media categories.
Podcasting for Learners
The applications in education are broad because learning materials can be shared across the Internet in audio format, and automatically transfered to a learner's iPod. The student can then pursue their academic interests and course materials with the help of the iPod, at their own convenience.
For example, a program run by Duke University has been experimenting with creative uses of the technology in the classroom, and 1,650 freshmen were each loaned 20GB iPods for the 2004-2005 academic year in order to download course content, including language lessons, music, and recorded lectures. The ease-of-use of the iPod and its attractiveness as a 'must-have' gadget increases the likelyhood of the device being used for educational purposes.
The iPod allows students to repeat lectures, catch up with missed classes or lectures, explore course content from other perspectives, and in the case of language learning for instance, practice their language skills in more flexible ways. Duke are conducting an ongoing evaluation to determine the effectiveness of the iPod program.
Find out More
Podcasting resources on the Internet are booming. This article asks if podcasting is "the next big thing". It describes what podcasting is, why people are using it, how it works and how to get started.
http://demo.collegepilot.com/pol/Newsletters/January/200501P01.htm
iPodder.NET is a media aggregator that downloads content to your computer automatically once you've subscribed to an RSS service.
http://ipoddernet.sourceforge.net/
The audio server on the Weblogs site offer a list of the latest 100 podcasts, on topics as diverse as travel, jazz, IT, music, and politics.
http://audio.weblogs.com/
iPodderx is a popular podcasting client for Mac that offers audio, images, even support for video feeds, and includes a podcast directory.
http://ipodderx.com/
Podcasting.net, Podcastbunker.com, and Podcascentral are podcasting directories offering hundreds of streams to subscribe to on learning, news, science, society, arts, religion, even soliloquies.
http://www.podcasting.net/
http://www.podcastbunker.com/
http://www.podcastcentral.com/
by Robert Whelan
|
